BRAINCAKEThe Dangers of Radioactivity
Ionising radiation such as u.v., X-rays, gamma rays and alpha and beta particles, damages living cells by damaging membranes, damaging DNA, creating free radicals which react with vital molecules. If DNA is damages, cells may divide uncontrollably causing potentially cancerous tumours. If the mutation is in a sex cell, the mutation will be passed on to many generations. High doses of radiation kill living cells, high and low doses increase the risk of cancer and there is no safe dose.
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Key terms in this lesson
- beta radiation
- Ionising radiation consisting of high-speed electrons, or positrons, emitted from an unstable nucleus.
More in Radioactivity
- Geiger Tube
- The nature of α, β and γ Radiation.
- Gamma radiation
- Radioactive Change
- Background Radiation
- Radioactive Decay and Half-life
- Activity
- Radioactive Decay
All 25 lessons in Radioactivity · All OCR A-level Physics topics